Private Law 69–270

That the claims of the owners of the steamship Basse Indre and the claims of all owners of various shipments of merchandise which were laden on board of the steamship Basse Indre, at the time hereinafter mentioned, against the United States of America for damages alleged to have been caused by collision between the steamship Basse Indre and the steamship Housatonic on the 23d day of May, 1919, in the Bay of Biscay, may be sued for by the said owners of the steam-ship Basse Indre and by the said owners of cargo in the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York sitting as a court of admiralty and acting under the rules governing such court; and said court shall have jurisdiction

Jurisdiction of court

to hear and determine such suits and to enter judgments or decrees for the amounts of such damages, and costs, if any, as shall be found to be due against the United States in favor of the owners of said steamship Basse Indre and in favor of the said owners of various shipments of merchandise which were laden on board of the steamship Basse Indre, or against the owners of said steamship Basse Indre, and the said owners of various shipments of merchandise which were laden on board of the steamship Basse Indre in favor of the United States, upon the same principles and measures of liability as in like cases in admiralty between private parties and with the same rights of appeal: Provided, That such

Provisos.

Notice, etc., to Attorney General.

notices of the suits shall be given to the Attorney General of the United States as may be provided by orders of the said court, and it shall be the duty of the Attorney General to cause the United States attorney in such district to appear and defend for the United States: Provided further, That said suits shall be brought and commenced

Commencement of suit.

within four months of the date of the passage of this Act.